Feldman's start a big success for Rangers

Former regular in rotation enjoys his return moment.

Stephen Hawkins / Associated Press

Published 2:23 am, Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Photo: Tony Gutierrez/Associated Press

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Fans celebrate as Texas Rangers' Josh Hamilton (32) is congratulated by manager Ron Washington, center rear, Yorvit Torrealba, second from right, and Elvis Andrus, right, following Hamilton's solo home run in the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Tampa Bay Rays on Tuesday, Aug. 30, 2011, in Arlington.

Fans celebrate as Texas Rangers' Josh Hamilton (32) is congratulated by manager Ron Washington, center rear, Yorvit Torrealba, second from right, and Elvis Andrus, right, following Hamilton's solo home run in

Tampa Bay Rays' Brandon Gomes pulls his "Dora the Explorer" rolling bag out to the bullpen next to Cesar Ramos (27) before the Rays' baseball game against the Texas Rangers on Tuesday, Aug. 30, 2011, in Arlington.

Tampa Bay Rays' Brandon Gomes pulls his "Dora the Explorer" rolling bag out to the bullpen next to Cesar Ramos (27) before the Rays' baseball game against the Texas Rangers on Tuesday, Aug. 30, 2011, in

Texas Rangers second baseman Ian Kinsler, left, reaches down for the throw as he prepares to tag out Tampa Bay Rays' Sean Rodriguez, who was attempting to steal second in the sixth inning of a baseball game Tuesday, Aug. 30, 2011, in Arlington.

Texas Rangers second baseman Ian Kinsler, left, reaches down for the throw as he prepares to tag out Tampa Bay Rays' Sean Rodriguez, who was attempting to steal second in the sixth inning of a baseball game

Texas Rangers' Josh Hamilton, front, trots home after hitting a solo home run off Tampa Bay Rays' Jeremy Hellickson, rear, in the sixth inning of a baseball game Tuesday, Aug. 30, 2011, in Arlington.

Texas Rangers' Josh Hamilton, front, trots home after hitting a solo home run off Tampa Bay Rays' Jeremy Hellickson, rear, in the sixth inning of a baseball game Tuesday, Aug. 30, 2011, in Arlington.

Photo: Tony Gutierrez/Associated Press

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Texas Rangers second baseman Ian Kinsler (5) and right fielder David Murphy, right, are unable to reach a short fly ball to right by Tampa Bay Rays' Johnny Damon in the ninth inning of a baseball game Tuesday, Aug. 30, 2011, in Arlington. Desmond Jennings was out at second. The Rangers won 2-0.

Texas Rangers second baseman Ian Kinsler (5) and right fielder David Murphy, right, are unable to reach a short fly ball to right by Tampa Bay Rays' Johnny Damon in the ninth inning of a baseball game Tuesday,

Tampa Bay Rays' Jeremy Hellickson wipes sweat off his face after loading the bases with Texas Rangers in the sixth inning of a baseball game Tuesday, Aug. 30, 2011, in Arlington.

Tampa Bay Rays' Jeremy Hellickson wipes sweat off his face after loading the bases with Texas Rangers in the sixth inning of a baseball game Tuesday, Aug. 30, 2011, in Arlington.

Photo: Tony Gutierrez/Associated Press

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Texas Rangers' Neftali Feliz, left, and catcher Yorvit Torrealba, right, congratulate each other following the Rangers' baseball game against the Tampa Bay Rays on Tuesday, Aug. 30, 2011, in Arlington. The Rangers won 2-0.

Texas Rangers' Neftali Feliz, left, and catcher Yorvit Torrealba, right, congratulate each other following the Rangers' baseball game against the Tampa Bay Rays on Tuesday, Aug. 30, 2011, in Arlington. The

T. Boone Pickens throws to home plate as he delivered the honorary first pitch before a baseball game between the Tampa Bay Rays and the Texas Rangers on Tuesday, Aug. 30, 2011, in Arlington.

T. Boone Pickens throws to home plate as he delivered the honorary first pitch before a baseball game between the Tampa Bay Rays and the Texas Rangers on Tuesday, Aug. 30, 2011, in Arlington.

Photo: Tony Gutierrez/Associated Press

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T. Boone Pickens reacts to his toss to home plate as he delivered the honorary first pitch before a baseball game between the Tampa Bay Rays and the Texas Rangers Tuesday, Aug. 30, 2011, in Arlington.

T. Boone Pickens reacts to his toss to home plate as he delivered the honorary first pitch before a baseball game between the Tampa Bay Rays and the Texas Rangers Tuesday, Aug. 30, 2011, in Arlington.

Photo: Tony Gutierrez/Associated Press

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Texas Rangers president Nolan Ryan, left, chats with T. Boone Pickens before a baseball game between the Rangers and the Tampa Bay Rays on Tuesday, Aug. 30, 2011, in Arlington. Pickens delivered the honorary first pitch.

Texas Rangers president Nolan Ryan, left, chats with T. Boone Pickens before a baseball game between the Rangers and the Tampa Bay Rays on Tuesday, Aug. 30, 2011, in Arlington. Pickens delivered the honorary

Texas Rangers shortstop Elvis Andrus (1) gives chase to Tampa Bay Rays' Sean Rodriguez, center, who was able to make it back to second safely on a ball hit by Matt Joyce, as Rangers' Ian Kinsler, right, looks on in the third inning of a baseball game Tuesday, Aug. 30, 2011, in Arlington. Joyce was safe at first.

Texas Rangers shortstop Elvis Andrus (1) gives chase to Tampa Bay Rays' Sean Rodriguez, center, who was able to make it back to second safely on a ball hit by Matt Joyce, as Rangers' Ian Kinsler, right, looks

Fans scatter and others reach up trying to reach a bat let loose by Texas Rangers' Josh Hamilton that reached high into the lower seating area during the first inning of the Rangers' baseball game against the Tampa Bay Rays on Tuesday, Aug. 30, 2011, in Arlington.

Fans scatter and others reach up trying to reach a bat let loose by Texas Rangers' Josh Hamilton that reached high into the lower seating area during the first inning of the Rangers' baseball game against the

Texas Rangers outfielder Leonys Martin, left, smiles as he chats with Elvis Andrus and Nelson Cruz, right, in the dugout during the second inning of a baseball game against the Tampa Bay Rays on Tuesday, Aug. 30, 2011, in Arlington.

Texas Rangers outfielder Leonys Martin, left, smiles as he chats with Elvis Andrus and Nelson Cruz, right, in the dugout during the second inning of a baseball game against the Tampa Bay Rays on Tuesday, Aug.

Texas Rangers starting pitcher Scott Feldman delivers to the Tampa Bay Rays in the first inning of a baseball game Tuesday, Aug. 30, 2011, in Arlington.

Texas Rangers starting pitcher Scott Feldman delivers to the Tampa Bay Rays in the first inning of a baseball game Tuesday, Aug. 30, 2011, in Arlington.

Photo: Tony Gutierrez/Associated Press

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Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Jeremy Hellickson delivers to the Texas Rangers in the third inning of a baseball game Tuesday, Aug. 30, 2011, in Arlington.

Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Jeremy Hellickson delivers to the Texas Rangers in the third inning of a baseball game Tuesday, Aug. 30, 2011, in Arlington.

Photo: Tony Gutierrez, Tony Gutierrez/Associated Press

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Feldman's start a big success for Rangers

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ARLINGTON — Scott Feldman was spot-on when he finally got a chance to start again for the AL West-leading Texas Rangers.

Feldman threw six scoreless innings in his first start this season, combining with four relievers on a three-hitter in a 2-0 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays on Tuesday night.

After winning 17 games in 2009 and being the Rangers' opening day starter last year with a new contract, Feldman was in the bullpen after missing the first half of this season recovering from offseason knee surgery. After seven relief appearances since July 22, he got a spot start when Texas decided to skip 10-game winner Matt Harrison's spot in the rotation so the left-hander could get some extended rest.

"The worst part of it was probably in the offseason when I was on crutches for a couple of months," Feldman said. "Maybe they'll run me out there when a guy needs a rest again or something like that. I don't even know what the plan is. More than anything, it's just good to contribute."

The only balls Tampa Bay hit out of the infield against Feldman (1-0) were the two singles he allowed. There were 12 groundouts, four strikeouts and two runners caught stealing in the 18 outs recorded while he was on the mound.

"He kept it down in the zone and did an outstanding job," manager Ron Washington said. "We certainly needed it."

Josh Hamilton had a towering homer for the Rangers, hitting hit the first pitch of the sixth inning thrown by rookie right-hander Jeremy Hellickson (11-10) deep into a second deck of seats in right field. It landed an estimated 449 feet from home plate, his 19th homer, and broke a scoreless tie.

"I thought it was actually going to be the first time I've seen a ball hit on the roof up there," Feldman said.

Tampa Bay manager Joe Maddon was reminded of the film "The Natural" when Hamilton hit the pitch that was thrown down the middle of the plate.

"That was properly struck," he said. "That would have done Robert Redford proud."

Michael Young followed with a double and scored on a single by David Murphy.

Mark Lowe, Darren Oliver, Mike Adams combined for two no-hit innings to set up Neftali Feliz for his 26th save in 32 chances. It was the Rangers' 16th shutout this season.

The Rays, held scoreless for the 13th time this season, had two runners on with no outs and got two balls out of the infield in the ninth. But Feliz finally got out of the jam when Evan Longoria grounded into a game-ending double play.

Feldman struck out four with one walk while throwing 88 pitches, right in the range of what Washington had said before the game.

"He had given us everything he needed to give us," Washington said. "The rest was up to the bullpen. They came in and did the job."

The Rays had hit 10 homers in their previous series against Toronto, a team-record for a series. But they barely got any balls off the ground in their first game at Texas since last season's AL playoffs.

Hellickson is 1-3 in his five August starts despite a 2.49 ERA in that span. He struck out four and walked four, two of those intentional, while giving up two runs and six hits.

The Rangers still had the bases loaded after scoring twice in the sixth before Ian Kinsler, the last batter Hellickson faced, hit an inning-ending flyball on the 10th pitch of the at-bat.

"He pitched great. We've just got to figure out how to beat some of these pitchers we're facing. Too many 1-0, 2-0 losses. We've got to get beyond that. There are no excuses," Maddon said. "He had to pitch through some land mines to keep it at two runs. We did some really good things. He didn't cave in by any means."

There was a strange play in the third after Rodriguez had a two-out single for Tampa Bay. Desmond Jennings then hit a grounder to shortstop Elvis Andrus, who fielded the ball and then realized that Rodriguez had rounded second and was right behind him well away from the base. Andrus reached out, missed and then ran Rodriguez back to the bag, reaching out to tag the runner as he dived back into the base.

Second base umpire Wally Bell ruled Rodriguez safe, though a replay showed the tag was applied in time.

Texas got out of the inning quickly after that when Johnny Damon was retired on a comebacker.

Notes: Murphy has started four consecutive games, going 7 for 15 in that stretch. ... The Rangers are 43-27 at home. ... Along with Hamilton's long homer, the reigning AL MVP also had two big swings when the bat slipped out of his hands. One of them landed about 10 rows behind the Rangers dugout, in some empty seats, and the other wound up coming to rest in foul territory past first base near coach Gary Pettis.